Marketplace: Sold by Private Collectors:

Professional Reviews For This Wine

Wine Spectator | Rating: 99

A powerful, majestic Champagne. Deep and compelling, with aromas of wholegrain toast, coconut and dried citrus. Lean and racy on the palate, with a creaminess that's yet to be integrated. A classic '96, with ripe, exotic aromas and a steely structure. Still a baby, with the long, resonant finish confirming its potential.

($300) Light gold. Remarkably perfumed nose projects an exotic bouquet of deep, leesy yellow fruit, minerals, honeycomb, smoked meat and flowers, with Asian spices building expanding in the glass. Almost painfully concentrated, offering a surreal parade of orchard and pit fruits, smoked meat, toasted brioche and marrow braced by intensely salty, stunningly incisive minerality. Imagine a Frankenstein's monster of Chablis Le Clos and Clos Ste. Hune-but one with perfect balance, of course-and you get an idea of what I found in my bottle. The energetic, stony character builds exponentially on the finish, which didn't seem to, well, finish. The best analogy I can come up with for the intensity, focus and clarity of this Champagne is liquefied barbed wire. Utterly hallucinatory and one of the most amazing wines I've ever been fortunate enough to drink. At the risk of sounding completely out of touch with reality, this is a value. (Moet Hennessy USA, New York, NY)

Author: Josh RaynoldsIssue: Issue 135

Professional content appears courtesy of Vinfolio

Wine Advocate | Rating: 97

The 1996 Vintage explodes from the glass with heady aromas that lead to a richly-textured expression of fruit. There is superb depth and richness, as endless layers of candied apricots, quince, pears, spices and toasted nuts continue to emerge from the glass. Later on, notes of almonds and lemon peel make an appearance, adding further complexity. This powerful, remarkably complete Champagne offers tremendous balance and the potential to continue to develop in bottle for two decades, if not considerably longer. Those fortunate enough to own this wine should be thrilled!

Drink Dates:
2010-2026
Author: Antonio GalloniIssue: 180

Professional content appears courtesy of Vinfolio

Richard Juhlin | Rating: 94

A wine from the foremost vintage from the foremost producer can of course not be other than fantastically good. It is however easy to be disappointed when expectations have been raised too high. I was offered my first bottle of this stately but immature wine by the Danish wine-loving couple Peter and Torun Kirk during an unforgettable dinner at their villa in Copenhagen. We drank it side by side with an absolutely wonderful bottle of 1988 Krug that out-classed the 96 in the degree of pure pleasure. It must however be said that the 96 is going to be a heroic wine though it still has a very long time to go yet. It is reminiscent of the 28 and also partly of the 61 in its compact costume and with its youthfully peevish acid. A monumental construction still at the model stage. Store!!!!

Author: Richard Juhlin

Professional content appears courtesy of Vinfolio

Jancis Robinson | Rating: 18

Quite a bit of development on the nose of this bottle and then notable 1996 acidity on the finish. Just a slight lack of weight in the middle and a very dry finish. (JR)

Collector Data For This Wine

6081 bottles owned by
795 collectors.

The Vinfolio Difference

Since its founding in 2003, Vinfolio has brought the rarest and highest-quality wines to the the collector
market. Located in San Francisco and Napa, we are a company of wine experts who understand and
value the importance of wine provenance. Our premium supplier relationships and first-in-class technology help us protect your wine from sourcing
through shipping with extraordinary care that only we can provide. Don't trust your fine wine with anything less!

About This Producer

Krug Champagnes are famous for their rich, nutty, elegant and extremely food-friendly nature. Founded in 1843 by German immigrant Johann-Joseph Krug, the house has since been run by many generations of the Krug family, and the general style of the champagne has evolved along with that progression. Depending on the blend, a combination of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier is used, and fermentation takes place in small French oak barriques. Aging can run anywhere from five to seven years on lees, and in the case of the Collection series, as much as fifteen to twenty years.
Krug's most prestigious wine is its vintage Blanc de Blancs (100% Chardonnay) from the grand cru vineyard site Clos du Mesnil.

Wine Varietal: Champagne Blend

Three major varieties are used in a Champagne Blend: Chardonnay, which provides a smooth, creamy texture and Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, which provide depth and backbone. Most Champagne is non-vintage (NV), produced with grapes from several different vintages. Vintage Champagnes are made in exceptional years and must contain 80% grapes from that year. Champagne, France is the only region permitted to put "Champagne" on the label.